Best Camping Tent Advice

If you are looking at investing in camping tents, you need to consider several factors. One of the major factors is the design of the tent. Tents of different designs are currently being offered in the market. Nowadays, you can find several innovative and ubiquitous designs when you go hunting for tents. However, you need to consider your specific requirements before you invest in any kind of tent.

Traditional buys

If you look at the usual tent designs that families invest in, you would find that A-frame design is one of the most common choices. There are also framed varieties that make sense for larger tent requirements. There are other generic shapes to consider such as tunnel or dome shapes. In general, the following shapes of tents are available in the market:

Dome

Tunnel

Semi geodesic

Geodesic

These are some of the usual tent designs that are available in most markets. However, there are differentiating features, pros and cons of each tent design. Check on these factors to choose the tent design that would be ideal for you.

Tunnel tent designs

Tunnel tents, as the name suggests, usually have a flexible design with parallel poles and fabric layering. The half cylinder shape tapers to the ends. The layout inside the tunnel tents might vary. Usually, the sleeping and living areas are clearly demarcated in a tunnel tent design. These can be laid out differently. For instance, sleeping area might be at one end and living area on the other.

In certain cases, there might be living spaces on either end with the sleeping area in the middle and so forth. The living space and ability to split up the rooms are the features that make these tents popular among families.

Dome tent designs

This is a basic tent design. It is one of the most basic designs that can be found at any camping accessory store. This tent design comprises two poles that cross diagonally from corner to corner on a base that is rectangular in shape. The poles cross in the middle. They hold up the tent’s shape. The poles might be inside or outside of the tent fabric depending upon variants of this tent design.

If you are looking for a large family tent, this design might make it harder to pitch the tent. For this reason, most families prefer the tunnel-shaped tents rather than the dome-shaped ones.

Geodesic tent and its various designs

This type of tent design is similar to dome tents. There are extra poles added to provide more support in this tent design. This kind of structure helps provide more stability to the tent. Therefore, if you are going to camp on grounds where high winds are expected, you would want geodesic tent.

However, the number of poles required for these tents makes them cumbersome to set up. If you wish to set up a compact and more technical tent, then these designs are the best to look for at the camping store.

Other tent designs

There are several innovative tent designs that are available in the market these days. For instance, the bell or tipi tent designs. These are innovative designs that are easy to pitch and can withstand bad weather conditions. There is a central pole that reduces head heights when you move towards the boundaries of the tents in these designs. You could also explore modern tent designs such as inflatable tent, tree tent, biking tent or camper tent.

These are innovative camping options that vary in the number of people they can accommodate, weight, dimensions and how they can be carried or pitched. It is important that you review these designs and choose the one that works for you the best. At the time of choosing a tent design, consider the following factors:

Number of people that you need to accommodate.

Area of space required.

Weather conditions expected.

Whether you would be backpacking or carrying the tent in your car.

Weight and portability of the tent design.

Weather resistance, features and accessories offered.

These are some of the important factors that you need to consider in order to properly review different tent designs. Check out different sellers and compare their prices before you make a purchase.

Camping tents allow you to have the best outdoor experience and it’s even more fun if you have large families or groups to accompany you. The size of a camping tent is denoted by the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in it. To be more precise, the number of people that can comfortably sleep in a tent best denotes the size of the tent. It may sound simple but entails deeper thought.

Tents may be needed not only for sleeping, but also for living. Therefore, you need more space than you think.

Large-sized tents

If you choose 4-berth tent, it works perfectly for 2 people – preferably adults. Similarly, large- sized tents are best suited for families. As far as children are concerned, they are happier when they have separate compartments of their own for sleeping. The bigger the tent size, the more space it takes up in your car.

Furthermore, it may be more expensive as well. Therefore, choosing the right size tent is crucial. Larger tents are mostly heavy. You should be prepared to carry the heavy weight in your car or during backpacking. If the tent is supplied in multiple bags, you need to ensure that you carry them all when you decide to go on camping trips.

Small-sized tents

If the camp tents are small in size, you would have less headroom. If headroom is not a big concern for you, then there is no harm in choosing small tents. However, when you decide to go on a camping holiday, you may wish to stand up with comfort. Therefore, look for headroom before you decide to buy a tent and don’t simply believe the image on the brochure.

Some tents have layers of fabric, but not all of them. If you choose small and lightweight tents, keep in mind that they come in single layer. Moreover, some large tents that are made of pure cotton fabric are single-layered. The family camp tents mostly have fabric inside and outside. The gap between the two layers should be assessed to ensure that there is no scope for leakage.

Smaller tents have flysheet above the inner layer for protection against weather.

Sizing for people

The camping tent manufacturers are attempting to design standard sizes for tents. However, considering the distinct requirements of people, it may not be feasible to standardize it. Unlike air beds or sleeping mats, there is no specific size for tents. They are available in different sizes.

Check out the floor plan to do a comparison with the people occupying the tent in sleeping areas. Look at the sizes of mats or beds that you wish to use in there and make sure that they fit in the tent. Besides that, you should have adequate space to fit in your luggage as well.

Take a closer look at the tent before you buy and try to enter inside.

Ask other members (who would be a part of the camping trip) to join you as well.

Lie down to figure out how spacious or cramped it is and whether you have enough space to move around.

If it matches your requirements, you could probably add it in your list as one of the preferred choices. Just drop the idea if you find it unsuitable.

Sleeping capacity

In order to correctly determine the size, you should know the sleeping capacity of the tent. When you choose a tent, you should go for it depending on the size of the group. You should also check if additional space is required to accommodate dogs, gears or friends. There is no manufacturer that defines the dimensions of the tents by the count of people.

Before you evaluate the tent capacity, you should make sure that you actually get in it. For more space, you can upsize the tent capacity by 1 person if you or your family members are claustrophobic or need space for tossing and turning during night.

These are some of the factors that you should consider in order to choose the right size tent for your camping requirements. There are several camping tents that are produced by various manufacturers to provide the best camping experience. After deciding on the approximate size of the tent, you can check out the features and purchase one.

Tents for camping are usually sought for outdoor recreation. People who are traveling and need makeshift accommodation usually opt for tents. Nowadays, it is a preferred way of staying outdoors when one goes on a camping or hiking trip. You would find several variations of tents and their uses.

There are varieties of tents that can be set up in one’s backyard or you might opt for tents that can be used in great outdoors during summer travels. There are also sturdy tents that can withstand harsh weather conditions – such as extreme cold – and can be used for camping out in the wilderness for months at a time.

Deciding on the tent design

As there are tents that designed for different kinds of trips and weather conditions as well as accommodation requirements, it is necessary to choose according to one’s needs. For instance, during car camping trips, one would need tents that can be set up alongside one’s recreational vehicle. These tents are usually carried by families when they are out on vacations.

If you are looking to set up a tent for a couple for a night, it is better to opt for small and compact tents that zip up in carry bags easily. On the other hand, tents for long camping trips that last a few days need to be larger and offer more security and accommodation features. Furthermore, if you are backpacking, you would need to consider the weight and portability of the tent as well.

Tent camping supplies

When you are investing in a tent, it makes sense to look at the different supplies that you might need. Many tent suppliers or manufacturers also offer handy kits for camping such as:

Sleeping bags.

Cooking stoves.

Easy to preserve food items.

Flashlights.

Insect repellents.

Water purification kits.

Bottled water.

Cooking utensils and serveware.

First aid kit.

Supplies of personal hygiene.

Entertainment materials such as music systems, radio or books.

How to pack?

For those who are backpacking, it is necessary to bring bare minimum things as they would need to be carried as a load on the shoulders. Some people might hike along mountainous terrains which make it even more difficult to carry heavy load.

On the other hand, those who are out on leisure trips and can carry their tent and camping gear in their vehicle might wish to carry a number of items to have a comfortable stay during their time outdoors.

Other items to consider

If you are looking to camp in a tent, you need to consider the dimensions, space required and other essential infrastructure that you might need. For instance, you need to have a large-sized tent with provision of room partitions for a family accommodation. The height and floor space are some of the dimensions that you need to check out at the time of purchasing a tent.

The design of the tent also matters as the amount of space that you get inside depends on it. In a cabin-like tent with straight walls, you get more space to lay out cots and have more floor space to walk around. Furthermore, the height of the tent should be tall enough for the tallest member of the group to stand straight, especially if you would be staying in the tent for several days.

For longer stays, you might prefer cots over sleeping bags. The kind of weather that you expect in the outdoor area also plays a part in choosing a tent. It is important to make sure that the weather proofing is adequate if you expect rain, storm or snowy weather.

How to make a purchase?

The abovementioned points would help you shortlist different kinds of tent products available in the market. Most tents are sold according to the number of people that you wish to accommodate in the tent. You need to look at the product descriptions before you make a purchase. It is also necessary to go through customer reviews before you decide to purchase a tent.

A large tent is a considerable investment. It is imperative to make sure that the tent would hold up in diverse and harsh weather conditions. The flooring and wall structure, overall weight, ease of setting up as well as features like frames, room partitions and windows are some of the several points to consider while you are purchasing a tent.

If you are going to purchase a tent, you need to consider according to the kind of travel you have in mind. There are different ways and modes of traveling. If you are backpacking across the country, you need to consider the weight and dimensions of the tent as well as how much you can carry or the kind of terrain that you would be camping on.

On the other hand, camping tents for families or groups are larger. These usually get transported by a vehicle and come with more accessories and features.

Keeping in mind the abovementioned factors, there are several variants that you can explore in both categories.

Backpacking tent choices

When you are looking for a backpacking tent, you need to consider the following factors:

Capacity or the number of people it can accommodate.

Weight of the tent in folded form.

Seasonality or weather conditions that the tent can withstand.

Livability features such as comfort and convenience.

For backpacking tents, there are accessories and materials that are sold separately. These include items such as footprints that come separately for backpacking tents. These are required for the tent floor in order to provide extra padding and protection.

Usually, backpacking tents can accommodate one to four individuals. As you need to have low weight for backpacking tents, you need go for snug fit tents, unlike camping tents. People who are bigger than average or wish to have more space can look for a plus size tent.

As for weather conditions, there are three season tents that are ideal for spring, fall or summer. They are lightweight as they are not made of heavier fabrics or materials. These tents can withstand light rain or snow. However, for storms, heavy rains or showers, these tents are not ideal. You need to look for lighter fabrics, fewer poles for a lightweight design.

In order to provide adequate protection from insects, the tents should have mesh panels. This also ensures adequate air flow. If you opt for a backpacking tent that has more upright walls, you would get more headroom inside the tent.

Tents for camping

The constraints that come with backpacking tents disappear when you look at camping tents. These are designed to accommodate larger groups of friends or families. Those who are traveling to a campsite or traveling by car and wish to pitch a tent by the road can look for this category of tents. Many people also set up a base camp and then move to higher grounds with a lighter backpacking tent.

Factors to consider

Size

Usually, camping tents are chosen according to the size of group that needs to be accommodated. You might want to park your bike or other gear as well as pets inside such tents. The standard rule to follow is to opt for a compact size tent according to the number of people. If you wish to have more room, then opt for a larger size that can accommodate larger groups.

Seasonality

You need to choose a tent according to the seasons that you would be camping in. Usually, tents for pleasant weather conditions such as spring, summer or fall are made of lighter fabrics as less snow, rain or high winds are expected during these seasons. For extreme weather conditions, you need thicker tents with greater weather proofing that can withstand rain, light flooding, storms and high winds.

Features

Apart from the abovementioned factors, there are some handy features of tent design or framework that need to be considered in order to get an ideal camping tent. For instance, you need to decide on the height. Camping members should be able to stand up straight inside the tent when they are changing clothes or walking around. There are cabin-style tents that have near vertical walls and can accommodate tall people.

The dome-style tents tend to reduce height towards the walls. However, they provide a better shield against the rains and stormy weather. Other features such as tent floor length, doors and tent poles need to be considered as well. The lesser the poles, the easier and less time consuming it is to set up a camping tent.

These points help you understand the basic features of backpacking and camping tent as well as explain how to choose between the two categories according to your needs.

Camping tents are available in different shapes and sizes to meet the requirements of the different people. If you love camping, you certainly need a good and durable camping tent to enjoy the outdoors. The top 10 camping tents have been briefly discussed below to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.

1. Coleman Weather Master 6-Person Screened Tent

This camping tent from Coleman is best suited for camp excursions, family campers and scout leaders. The tent is designed with many useful features and installation process is easy.

Welding technology that makes the tent floor stronger and leaves no scope for needle holes.

Velcro frame is easy to use and rainfly covers windows and doors.

Made of coated polyester material that keeps you dry in extreme weathers.

Zipper cuff provides protection to the door from particles.

Excellent performance due to its wind responsive frame.

2. Coleman 8-Person Tenaya Lake Fast Pitch Tent with Closet

This fast pitch tent offers all the luxuries to provide the best camping experience.

Camping is fun and most of the adventurous people like it a lot. It can be done with family and friends and kids enjoy it too. There is a variety of camping tents available today but choosing the right one is a challenging task. There are many factors to consider such as easy assembly, size and cost.

Furthermore, you need to make sure that it keeps you and your family protected in extreme conditions and offers the best ventilation as well. Before proceeding further, it is important to get an overview about the history of the camping tents.

Overview of camping tents

The camping tents of today are inspired by the portable homes and shelters used by humans during ancient days. Some remains of a tent were discovered in Russia that date back to 40,000 B.C.

The tents were primarily preferred by nomadic people and the practice still remains intact till this day. The tents were mainly used for camping in western cultures and the practice started with Roman and Greek armies. The Romans had learnt the art of staying in tents and setting up entire cities everywhere they moved.

With a variety of tents available in the market today, you can choose the best one after considering some of the factors that are discussed below.

Tips for choosing the best camping tent

Comfort

The prime benefit of a camping tent over a backpacking tent is its bigger size. Moreover, it is designed to last longer and help you camp with comfort all day and night. While choosing the best camping tent, you should look for something that offers more than just shelter.

It should protect you from bugs, help you read a book or take a nap without any discomfort. The ceiling height is another factor to consider. You should check if you can stand up inside the tent or you need to crouch while walking.

Ventilation

If a tent does not provide adequate ventilation, it can get hot and uncomfortable under the sun. Look for a tent with larger screen windows that makes you feel cool and also has an option to cover up the windows during storm or extreme weather conditions. If you choose to camp in extreme hot weather, you should be able to protect yourself from bugs. Therefore, look for a tent with mesh.

Storm resistance

If you are camping in a good weather, the experience can be great and unforgettable. However, if the weather starts to deteriorate due to a storm, your tent should be of best quality to withstand the harsh weather conditions. Look for a waterproof tent to protect yourself and other the people in the tent from rain.

Durability

In addition to good workmanship, you should also focus on durability of the tent if you are planning to use it for a long period of time. If you choose cheap tents, there are high chances that the tent poles would break and spoil all the fun. Therefore, choose the tent only after checking the quality of materials and workmanship to make sure that it can be used for a long period of time.

Ease of setting up

If you buy a tent that takes a lot of time for setting up, it can get frustrating. It wastes a lot of time and spoils the vacation mood. Before purchasing a tent, test it to figure out the time it takes for setting it up. If you think that it is taking a lot of time and the installation process is complicated, choose something better. Any good tent should not take more than 2 to 3 minutes to set up. Therefore, be wise and check this feature.

Size of packing

Weight may not be something that you need to worry about while purchasing a camping tent. However, packing size is definitely an important factor to consider. You need to make sure that it can be easily folded and fits in your car perfectly. If it’s too big even after folding, it can be a concern.

These are just some of the factors that need to be taken into consideration before purchasing a camping tent. If you want to have the best camping experience with no hindrances, you should consider the abovementioned points. Furthermore, read through customer reviews to understand if the specific product that you are looking to buy is good enough to provide the ultimate camping experience.

If you’re looking for a great tent you want to make sure that you look at the top camping tent brands. Of course, there are hundreds and maybe even thousands or more different companies that are making tents around the world. It’s something we all know of course, but that doesn’t mean that we like all of them or want to purchase one from just any category.

After all, not all of those tent makers are good, it’s just not possible. So which brands are the ones you can really trust? Well it’s actually not as difficult as you might think to find out.

Top Camping Tent Brands

Here we’re going to focus on the camping tent brands that campers, hikers and backpackers have names as their favorites. After all, these are the people who know the most about the products and who actually use them.

These are the ones who are going to put these products to the test in a big way and they’re going to make sure that you, whether you’re trusting these tents for a big trip or just fun in the backyard, are not going to get something unsuitable to your needs.

Coleman

This is probably not a surprising one since Coleman has been around and been making outdoor gear or all types for so long. But it’s definitely one of the longest lasting brands for a reason. It’s also one of the largest brands for tents that you can find anywhere.

These tents are great with waterproofing and make sure that no matter what area of the tent you’re focused on, you’re not going to find water. It’s definitely their best feature. Plus you can find them in all different sizes, styles and colors to make sure your tent fits you.

ALPS Mountaineering

If you’re not a little more hardcore you might not have heard of this brand but they definitely have some great tents for people who want high quality. The great thing is that these tents are designed to give you extremely high quality without paying that premium you usually would.

They’re designed to be lightweight and portable, which means the better tents in this brand are the ones for smaller groups, as the larger ones can be less efficient. They are definitely easy to set up and they are water resistant, plus they offer extra features.

Wenzel

Another great brand you may not have heard of because you won’t find it in most traditional stores is Wenzel. This brand has tents that will be great for individuals all the way up to large groups. Larger groups however is how they really shine.

These brands are weatherproof and ready for absolutely anything so you’ll always be comfortable in one. There are also several different styles and types that you can use to fit your needs whether it’s something easy to set up or something a little unique.

Kodiak Canvas

This is a brand of tents that incredibly rugged and ready for anything. No matter where you’re going camping you’ll have no problem with these because they’re entirely breathable, weather resistant and even mold and mildew resistant as well as being extremely durable and strong.

You’ll get plenty of height in this tent as well, being able to stand up, which is something that most tents on the market don’t enable you to do because they’re built smaller and more compact. This brand is designed to help you enjoy your trip and it does that by being built from quality canvas materials, instead of synthetics.

Wrapping it Up

In the end, the whole thing comes down to exactly what you want the most. Whether you’re looking for something that will take you and a large group or just you on your favorite camping trip, you’re going to have no problem getting anything and everything you want out of the process.

After all, tents are as varied and versatile as you could imagine. You can find anything you want and you’ll easily be able to enjoy your next trip, no matter where you might be going. Finding that perfect tent is only the first step of course, so you’re going to have plenty to consider before you purchase yours.

Make sure you’re not getting too caught up in the brand names because even though these are great brands, they’re definitely not the only brands around. You’ll find plenty more and each one will have something that definitely makes them a great choice for you and your family.

Only you can really decide which one is going to be the ideal fit and how you’re going to make your next camping trip the best one you’ve ever had. After all, who doesn’t’ love getting out there in the wilderness with their closest friends?

When you’re going out camping one of the most important pieces of equipment that you could possibly have is the tent you take with you. High quality camping tents are going to keep you safe, while a low quality tent could result in more problems than you think.

You could end up cold, wet, or even overheated or your tent could just fall apart. These are things you definitely don’t want to see happen, and that means you want to know what you’re looking for in your next tent and just how you can make sure it’s exactly what you need.

What High Quality Camping Tents Have to Offer

If you’re getting a truly high quality camping tent you’re going to be looking for a few key features. These features are going to help you understand the difference between a good tent and a mediocre or even bad tent.

So make sure you’re paying attention and that you consider each aspect before you decide to buy a tent, you don’t know how important each feature could be when it comes down to it. Just one less than ideal quality could mean problems for you and your family.

The People You’re Bringing

The first thing you need to think about is how many people you’re bringing with you on your camping trip. The more people you’re bringing the larger the space you need, but you don’t just need to consider the number of people. You also need to consider the size of those people, how much they move around and how much they dislike tight spaces, as that can definitely have an impact on the size of the tent that you need.

Seasons of Camping

When are you planning on going camping? That is also going to play a very important role in the specific tent you’re going to need. You need something that will work well with any season of camping you’re planning on. Some tents are more lightweight because they’re designed as a 3-season tent that will work well for warm weather or cooler weather, but not for the cold of winter.

4-season tents are designed to keep you protected no matter what happens. They’re going to be more difficult to set up because there are more poles and pieces, but they also keep you safe in harder weather.

Ceiling Height

You’ll want to consider just how much space you want inside the tent for moving around as well. Most tents are going to be reasonable enough for sitting and playing cards or relaxing.

However, a lot of them aren’t going to be so good for things like standing or moving around a lot. That’s because the ceiling height is a lot lower. For some people this is fine because they only use their tent when they are sleeping, but others may have a little trouble with the cramped quarters and not being able to stand up or move easily.

Extras and Additions

One of the fun things about getting a tent is checking out all the bonus features that come along with it. You can get all kinds of things to go along with it including vestibules and garages and even special pockets and loops on the inside. This way you’ll be able to more easily store your belongings and keep everything safe while you’re camping.

It’s not always the easiest thing to do, but if you’re careful and you select just the right extras, you could find yourself with a whole lot better experience than you think.

Other extras could include things that are less common but still helpful while you’re camping. A gear loft on the inside part of the tent can be a nice place to store excess belongings out of the way, but it does limit the amount of head space even more.

Things like additional stakes and anchors and floor mats can definitely be beneficial as well. Not to mention battery operated tools and devices to keep your camping trip a little more comfortable and even a repair kit for the tent itself when you need it.

Winning it Over Your Way

No matter what type of tent you decide to choose, there’s always going to be some ups and downs. It’s difficult to find the absolute perfect tent, but if you keep looking for a long while and money isn’t a factor, you just might be able to find it.

Otherwise, make sure that you’re looking at the features and choosing which ones you absolutely have to have and which ones are going to be a little less important. You need to know how many compromises you’re willing to make and then chose one of the high quality camping tents that fits for you.

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